Switch assembly

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a switch assembly comprising an essentially tubular enclosed housing. The tubular axis of the enclosed housing deviates from the horizontal and the vertical. The switch assembly comprises an interrupter unit, to which three main leads are connected.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This application is a national stage of PCT/DE2004/000982 which waspublished on Dec. 16, 2004 and which claims the benefit of priority toGerman Application No. 103 25 681.4 filed Jun. 2, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a switch arrangement having an interrupter unitwhich is arranged within an essentially tubular encapsulation enclosure,with the interrupter unit having a main current path with a first and asecond end, between which a switching gap of the interrupter unit isarranged, and a first output line is passed out of the end face of theencapsulation enclosure and a second output line is passed out of thecasing of the encapsulation enclosure, and the interrupter unit has athird associated output line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gas-insulated hybrid switching devices are known from the patentspecifications U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,224 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,568B2. The hybrid switching devices there each have combinations ofinterrupter units for a circuit breaker, as well as one or more switchdisconnectors.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,334 discloses a circuit breaker whoseinterrupter units are arranged in enclosures, which are each at groundpotential. Outdoor bushings are flange-connected to the enclosure inorder to pass the electrical connecting conductors through to theinterrupter units. The enclosures are in an inclined position, in theinstalled state.

A further switch arrangement is disclosed, for example, in Laid-OpenSpecification DE 101 19 530 A1. In the known arrangement, an interrupterunit is arranged with its main current path within an encapsulationenclosure.

A module having a switch disconnector and a grounding switch, and onwhich bushings are arranged, is arranged at the end. The encapsulationenclosure is essentially tubular. The tube axis of the tubularencapsulation enclosure is arranged horizontally. Further modules areflange-connected to the casing of the encapsulation enclosure, andbusbars are arranged in them.

A switch arrangement such as this requires a large number of furthermodules, in addition to the encapsulation enclosure. Furthermore, theknown switch arrangement requires a large installation area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of refining a switch arrangement ofthe type mentioned initially such that the switch arrangement costslittle and requires only a small installation area.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the tube axis ofthe essentially tubular encapsulation enclosure when the switcharrangement is in the ready-to-operate state is not vertical orhorizontal, the first and the second output lines are electricallyconductively connected to the first end of the main current path, andthe third output line is electrically conductively connected to thesecond end of the main current path.

The oblique arrangement of the tube axis allows the switch arrangementto be installed on a small base area. The encapsulation enclosure ismounted on a supporting frame, which supports the encapsulationenclosure at one end. This alignment provides the entire switcharrangement with an upright contour, oriented with a vertical. Theelectrical connection of two output lines to the same end of the maincurrent path allows a line to be connected to be split between twooutgoers. A switch arrangement such as this can be used, for example, ina high-voltage switchgear assembly. In this case, the switch arrangementmay have one or more encapsulated poles, with the encapsulationenclosure being filled with insulating gas at a raised pressure.

A further advantageous refinement provides for the third output line tobe passed out of the casing of the encapsulation enclosure.

When the second output line and the third output line are arranged inthe casing area of the encapsulation enclosure, the first and the secondend of the main current path can have electrical contact made with themon the casing side. The encapsulation enclosure can thus also be used toform a conventional dead-tank high-voltage circuit breaker with ahorizontally arranged interrupter unit. The encapsulation enclosure canthus be used in a versatile manner.

It is advantageously also possible to provide for at least one of theoutput lines to have an associated switch disconnector.

Association between the switch disconnectors allows the switcharrangement to be used in switchgear assemblies in which separate switchdisconnectors and separate circuit breakers have been used until now.Particularly when in each case one switch disconnector is associatedwith each output line, the circuit arrangement allows a wide range ofcircuit variants to be produced. Display means may be provided in orderto indicate the position of the switch disconnectors.

It is also advantageously possible to provide for at least one of thefirst or of the second output lines to have a grounding switch, and forthe third output line to have a grounding switch.

The interrupter unit can be grounded by means of the grounding switches.In this case, the two ends of the interrupter unit can be groundedseparately via the associated grounding switches. In a correspondingcircuit variant, the overhead lines, busbars, cables etc which areconnected to the output lines can likewise be grounded via the groundingswitches.

A further refinement can provide for at least one of the output lines tobe in the form of an outdoor bushing, or for the first, the second andthe third output lines to be in the form of outdoor bushings.

Outdoor bushings are a cost-effective way to pass the output linesthrough the encapsulation enclosure in a gas-tight manner. Electricallines can be connected directly to outdoor bushings. A switcharrangement having an interrupter unit, switch disconnectors andgrounding switches can be used as a switchboard in a switchgearassembly. Compact switch arrangements such as these are also suitable,for example, for replacing switchboards which were previously formed inoutdoor insulation.

It is also advantageously possible to provide for the switchdisconnector or disconnectors to be integrated in the outdoor bushing orbushings.

Integration of the switch disconnectors in the outdoor bushing resultsin an insignificant increase in the physical volume of conventionaloutdoor bushings. Volumes which until now have been used to control thevoltage distribution can be used, for example, in order to accommodatedrive elements or movable elements.

Furthermore, it is advantageously possible to provide for one of theoutdoor bushings to be arranged vertically and for two further outdoorbushings to be arranged in the form of a fan, symmetrically with respectto the vertical outdoor bushing.

This arrangement of the bushings allows the mass to be distributedapproximately uniformly on the switch arrangement. It is thus possibleto arrange the mounting frame for holding the switch arrangement on asmall base area, a foundation or the like.

A further advantageous refinement makes it possible to provide for thelongitudinal axis of an outdoor bushing which is arranged on the casingside to be arranged radially with respect to the tube axis of theencapsulation enclosure, and the longitudinal axis of another outdoorbushing which is arranged on the casing side to be arranged obliquely,at an angle to a radial of the tube axis.

The output lines are passed through the encapsulation enclosure in aninsulated form by means of the outdoor bushings. The output lines extendalong the longitudinal axes of the outdoor bushings.

It is advantageously also possible to provide for isolators for holdingthe interrupter unit to be arranged at the side on the interrupter unit.

By way of example, the isolators may be in the form of post insulators,in the form of columns. The longitudinal axes of post insulators such asthese which are in the form of columns are preferably located radiallywith respect to the tube axis of the encapsulation enclosure. Ifrequired, they could however also be arranged at an angle to this tubeaxis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in thefollowing text and are illustrated schematically in the figures, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a first refinement variant of a switch arrangement,

FIG. 2 shows a second refinement variant of a switch arrangement, and

FIG. 3 shows a third refinement variant of a switch arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The refinement variants illustrated in the figures have fundamentallyvery similar designs. They differ in individual details. The apparatuseswhich have the same effect and are illustrated in the various figuresare provided with the same reference symbols.

FIG. 1 shows a first refinement variant of a switch arrangement 1. Thefirst refinement variant of the switch arrangement 1 has an essentiallytubular encapsulation enclosure 2. An interrupter unit 3 is arrangedalong the tube axis of the encapsulation enclosure 2, in its interior.The interrupter unit 3 has a first end 4 and a second end 5 of a maincurrent path. A switching gap 6 of the interrupter unit 3 is arrangedbetween the first and the second end 4, 5 of the interrupter unit 3.

The main current path can be interrupted by means of the switching gap6. The interrupter unit 3 is an interrupter unit of a high-voltagecircuit breaker. The interior of the encapsulation enclosure 2 is filledwith an insulating gas at a raised pressure. The switching gap 6 has twocontact pieces which can be moved relative to one another, at least oneof which can be moved by means of a drive device 7. The drive device 7is held by a mounting frame 8. The movement which is produced by thedrive device 7 is transmitted via a kinematic chain through a wall ofthe encapsulation enclosure 2 into its interior. The mounting frame 8has an equipment cabinet in whose interior further control andmonitoring devices, in addition to the drive device 7, can also beaccommodated.

The mounting frame 8 is also fitted with the encapsulation enclosure 2,with the fittings that are fitted to it. The tube axis of theencapsulation enclosure 2 is neither horizontal nor vertical when theswitch arrangement is in the operating position. The tube axis islocated at an angle of about 45 degrees to the horizontal. Depending onthe installation location of the switch arrangement, the position maydiffer by up to plus or minus 20 degrees in this case.

The encapsulation enclosure 2 has a first connecting flange 9 at theend. A second and a third connecting flange 10, 11 are arranged on thecasing. A first outdoor bushing 12 with a first output line 12 a isarranged on the first connecting flange 9. A second outdoor bushing 13with a second output line 13 a is arranged on the second connectingflange 10. A third outdoor bushing 14 with a third output line 14 a isflange-connected to the third connecting flange 11. The first and thesecond output lines 12 a, 13 a are connected to the first end 4 of theinterrupter unit 3. The third output line 14 a is electricallyconductively connected to the second end 5 of the interrupter unit. Theoutdoor bushings 12, 13, 14 are used to pass the electrical conductorsthrough the encapsulation enclosure 2 (which, for example, is a metallicbody and is at ground potential) in an insulated manner. The outdoorbushings 12, 13, 14 project essentially upright from the mounting frame8. The interrupter unit 3 is arranged such that it is electricallyisolated from the encapsulation enclosure 2. Post insulators 15 a, b arearranged between the encapsulation enclosure 2 and the interrupter unit3 for this purpose. Depending on the form of the encapsulation enclosure2 and of the interrupter unit 3, the installation locations of the postinsulators 15 a, b may be shifted along the interrupter unit 3 (seeFIGS. 2 and 3).

The second connecting flange 10 is fitted in the form of a knee to thecasing of the encapsulation enclosure 2. Alternatively, it is alsopossible to provide for an adaptor in the form of a knee to be placed ona flange which is arranged on the casing. The bend of the knee is chosensuch that the second outdoor bushing 13, which is flange-connected tothe second connecting flange 10, is aligned approximately vertically.When the switch arrangement 2 is in the installed state, the angles α, βwhich are included between the longitudinal axes of the second outdoorbushing 13 and the first outdoor bushing 12, as well as between thelongitudinal axes of the second outdoor bushing 13 and of the thirdoutdoor bushing 14, are approximately the same.

The design of the third outdoor bushing 14 will now be described, by wayof example. The outdoor bushing 14 has an insulating enclosure 14 b. Aconnecting bolt 14 c is arranged at the free end of the third outdoorbushing 14. A bulkhead isolator 14 d is arranged at the footpoint of theoutdoor bushing. The third output line 14 a is held isolated in theinterior of the third outdoor bushing. The disconnection point of aswitch disconnector 14 e is integrated in the conductor run of the thirdoutput line 14 a. In addition, the third outdoor bushing 14 has agrounding switch 14 f. The second end 5 of the interrupter unit 3 can bedisconnected from an electrical conductor that makes contact with theconnecting bolt 14 c by means of the switch disconnector 14 e, and canbe grounded via the grounding switch 14 f. When the switch disconnector14 f is closed, an electrical conductor which makes contact with theconnecting bolt 14 c can also be grounded.

The third outdoor bushing 14 has an associated current transformer 16,by means of which the electric current flowing through the third outputline can be measured.

The first outdoor bushing 12 has an identical design to that of thethird outdoor bushing 14. The second outdoor bushing 13 is of a simplerdesign. Since its output line makes electrical contact with the same endof the interrupter unit 3, as the output line from the first outdoorbushing 12, there is no need for either a grounding switch or a currenttransformer. However, if required, the second outdoor bushing 13 canalso be equipped with this.

By way of example, a switch arrangement such as this allows a supplyline to be connected to two busbars via the third outdoor bushing 14 andvia the first and the second outdoor bushings 12, 13. Connection to thesupply line is made via the interrupter unit 3. Distribution to therespective busbars takes place via the switch disconnectors of the firstand of the second outdoor bushings 12, 13.

Furthermore, busbar changes can be carried out, and busbar sections, theinterrupter unit 3 together with the connected output lines or else thesupply line can be grounded via the grounding switches.

The second refinement variant, as illustrated in FIG. 2, of a switcharrangement 20 is fundamentally of the same design as the firstrefinement variant 1. The encapsulation enclosure 21 additionally has afourth connecting flange 22 on the casing side. A voltage transformer 23is flange-connected to the fourth connecting flange, for voltagemeasurement. The position of the post insulator 15 b is varied by meansof the fourth connecting flange 22.

The third refinement variant 30, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, is inprinciple of the same design as the first and the second refinementvariants 1, 20. The encapsulation enclosure 31 of the third refinementvariant 30 has a fifth connecting flange 32 on the casing side. Theinterior of the encapsulation enclosure 31 is accessible forinstallation purposes through this connecting flange. Furthermore, afurther grounding switch 33 is arranged on the encapsulation enclosure31. The further grounding switch 33 can be operated in situ, for exampleduring maintenance work, and grounds the interrupter unit. The positionof the post insulators 15 a, b is matched to the shape of theencapsulation enclosure 31.

The details of the various refinement variants can be combined with oneanother so that it is also possible to produce refinements which are notillustrated in the figures. Furthermore, the invention is not restrictedto the single-pole encapsulation illustrated in the figures. Embodimentsmay also provide for electrical conductors of a plurality of phases tobe arranged within a common enclosure. In this case, by way of example,the outdoor bushings can be arranged such that they project on aplurality of planes, in the form of rays, from the encapsulationenclosure.

1. A switch arrangement, comprising: an interrupter unit disposed withina substantially tubular encapsulation enclosure, said tubularencapsulation enclosure having a casing, an end face and a tube axisinclined relative to vertical and relative to horizontal when the switcharrangement is in a ready-to-operate state, said interrupter unit havinga main current path with a first end and a second end and a switchinggap formed between said first end and said second end, said interrupterunit having a first output line passing out of said end face of saidencapsulation enclosure and a second output line passing out of saidcasing of said encapsulation enclosure, said first and second outputlines being electrically conductively connected to said first end ofsaid main current path, said interrupter unit having a third output linebeing electrically conductively connected to said second end of saidmain current path.
 2. The switch arrangement according to claim 1,wherein said third output line is passed out of said casing of saidencapsulation enclosure.
 3. The switch arrangement according to claim 1,wherein at least one of said output lines has an associated switchdisconnector.
 4. The switch arrangement according to claim 3, whereinsaid at least one of said output lines is an outdoor bushing.
 5. Theswitch arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said switchdisconnector is integrated in said outdoor bushing.
 6. The switcharrangement according to claim 1, wherein each said output line has anassociated switch disconnector.
 7. The switch arrangement according toclaim 6, wherein at least one of said output lines is an outdoorbushing.
 8. The switch arrangement according to claim 7, wherein thefirst, the second and the third output lines are outdoor bushings. 9.The switch arrangement according to claim 8, wherein a longitudinal axisof one of said outdoor bushings disposed on said casing is providedradially with respect to said tube axis of said encapsulation enclosureand a longitudinal axis of another of said outdoor bushings disposed onsaid casing is arranged obliquely, at an angle to a radial of said tubeaxis.
 10. The switch arrangement according to claim 8, wherein saidswitch disconnectors are integrated in said outdoor bushings.
 11. Theswitch arrangement according to claim 10, wherein one of said outdoorbushings is disposed vertically and two remaining said outdoor bushingsare disposed in the form of a fan, symmetrically with respect to saidvertically disposed outdoor bushing.
 12. The switch arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first line and secondoutput line has a grounding switch, and said third output line has agrounding switch.
 13. The switch arrangement according to claim 1,further comprising isolators disposed on a side of said interrupter unitfor holding said interrupter unit.